Viva Wyndham brought its action-packed family resort fun formula to Playa Dorada last winter. Pioneered on Bayahibe beach on the southeast coast, the formula that combines Italian joie de vivre and good cooking with Dominican hospitality and love of partying paid off, and the chain even exported the idea to Mexico, the Bahamas and more recently to Cabarete and Samana before finally coming to Playa Dorada.

Viva Wyndham Playa Dorada boasts 204 comfortable rooms and suites, a cascade pool, a smaller pool for volleyball games in the water, and a Jacuzzi-style pool at the top for lounging and intimate groups of friends.

The youthful “We are the Sun” team is there to keep the entire family active. They will sign you up to learn merengue, put on nightly shows, and take you on short trips on board a Hobie Cat to see what Playa Dorada is all about from further out to sea.

There are plenty of body boards, kayaking and active games of volleyball right on the beach. The fully-equipped gym is open from 8 to 1 and from 4 to 8 pm for those wanting to keep in shape. At 10 am it is time to learn how to windsurf. From 3 to 5 pm have a go at catamaran sailing. All day from 9 to 6 pm play a game of tennis at the resort’s courts.